Feeder construction



April 10, 1956 c. v. KEHRl-:s ETAL 2,741,401

FEEDER CONSTRUCTION Filed Jan. 23, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet l .ji-r 5 /4 64 Lmil/wm lmlL/"j 111 :V/ I l mi l. 4

United `States Patent FEEDER CONSTRUCTION Charles V. Kehres, WebsterGroves, and Luton L. Cook, St. Louis, Mo., assignors to Laclede-ChristyCompany, St. Louis, Mo., a corporation of Missouri Application January23, 1952, Serial No. 267,724

2 Claims. (Cl. 222-136) The present invention relates generally tofeeder constructions, and more particularly to a feeder apparatuscapable of continuously metering and delivering selectivelypredeterminable quantities of a plurality of materials, such as theseveral materials required in the formation of iirebrick, and the like.

In the clay products industry, there has long existed the need for anapparatus which willfeed materials coninto the grinding machinery isundesirable, since peak and low drains are made, both upon the powerwhich drives the machinery and upon the grinding elements of the mixer.Later years have also introduced the serious problem of economy from thehand labor standpoint, since the wages of unskilled labor have continuedto increase.

The present novel feeder apparatus is a solution to the long standingproblem, and, in brief, comprises a multi-compartment hopper mountedover and feeding onto a continuous conveyer which extends beyond thehopper and may be disposed to discharge directly, or by way of a chute,into grinding machinery. Adjustable gates are provided for metering theseveralmaterials moved from the hopper on the conveyer. The presentfeeder apparatus may be amobile unit, as shown, o'r it may be providedwith a stationary mount.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a feederapparatus which will deliver uniform predetermined amounts of materialsto a mixing point at a constant rate.

Another object is to provide a novel feeder apparatus which includesadjustable metering gates which arefindividually adjustable in order todeliver selective amounts of each material to the mixing point.

Another object is to provide a feeder apparatus for handling a pluralityof materials which will continuously feed in a constant streampredetermined quantities of selected material to a mixing point, such asinto grinding machinery in the clay products art, thereby achievinguniformity of the ultimate product, improving the power factor,equalizing the wear of the grinding machinery, and insuring a greatlyincreased output of the ultimate product per working day.

Another object is to provide a feeder-apparatus particularly adapted tothe clay products art, which is of sturdy construction, which is ofrelatively few moving parts, which requires very little maintenance,which is adapted to function with a minimum down time, and whichrequires the attention of less than half the nurnber of men formerlyrequired to produce substantially the same amount of the finishedproduct.V

2,741,401 Patented Apr. 10, 1956 ICC The foregoing and other objects andadvantages are apparent from the following description taken with theaccompanying drawings, in which:

' Fig. l is a side elevational View of a feeder apparatus constructed inaccordance with the teachings of the present invention, the materialsdelivery chute being broken away for conservation of space;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof, the materials delivery chute beingbroken away for conservation of space;

Fig. 3 is a side elevational View thereof, viewed from the side oppositeto that shown in Fig. l, a portion of the top of the hopper being brokenaway Afor conservation of space, and a portion of the side thereof beingbroken away to illustrate details of construction;

Fig. 4 is a vertical longitudinal cross-sectional view taken onsubstantially the line 4 4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a vertical transverse cross-sectional view taken onsubstantially the line 5 5 of Fig. l;

Fig. 6 is a vertical transverse cross-sectional view taken onsubstantially the line 6 6 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged vertical longitudinal cross-sectional view takenon substantially the line 7 7 of Fig. 5;

Figs. 8, 9 and lO'are enlarged horizontal cross-sectional views taken onsubstantially the lines 8 8, 9 9, and lll-10 of Fig. 5;

Fig. l1 is an enlarged front elevational View of one ofthe meteringgates; and

" Fig. 12 is a side elevational View thereof.

Referring to the drawings more particularly by reference numerals, 15indicates generally a feeder apparatus incorporating the concepts of thepresent invention. Broadly, the feeder apparatus 15 includes a baseconstruction 16, a power driven endless conveyer construction 17, and agated hopper construction 18.

More particularly considering the several components of the feederapparatus 15, the base construction 16 includes two spaced parallel sideplates 26 of substantial thickness, and of a configuration clearly shownin the drawings. A rear end plate 2l is secured by bolts 22 to the rearends of the plates 2G to brace the same. A U-shaped plate 23 spans thetop edges of the plates 20 towards the forward ends thereof and issecured thereto by suitable bolts 24. Front rollers 25 are rotatablysupported by brackets Z6 which are welded to the outer facesl of theplates 20. Rear rollers 27 are rotatably mounted on .brackets 23 whichare pivotally connected to small plates 29 welded or otherwise securedto the outer faces of the side plates Ztl. Hence, the rear rollers 27are casters which facilitate movement of the feeder apparatus 15 in anydesired direction. A vertically threaded boss 32 is welded to the outerface of each plate 20 near the center thereof which receives a threadedshaft 33 having a foot 34. An apertured head 35 is secured to the upperend of each shaft 33 which is adapted to receive a tool in a selectedopening for ready rotation of the shaft 33 and adjustment of theposition of the foot 34. The feet 34 are employed to maintain the feederapparatus 15 in a selected feeding position, it being understood thatthe feet 34 are lowered into substantial contact with the supportingfloor-to relieve a predetermined portion of the load from the rearcaster rollers 27 when the feeder apparatus 15 is in feeding position.

" The power driven conveyer construction 17 includes a conventionalendless conveyer belt 4t) of articulated metal slats 49' connected bylinks at the ends, or otherwise, and individually indented underneath`to receive the teeth of opposed driven sprockets 41 and opposedy idler`sprockets 42. The idler sprockets 42 are freely mounted on a shaft 43which extends `through an elongated opening in each of the side plates2Q and is supported in slide blocks 44 slidably mounted in brackets 45welded or otherwise secured to the outer faces of the qgilateswZO.vv

`An adjustmentscrew v46 .is provided fondeterminingthe position of eachof the slide blocks 44, as is clear-from the drawings. The drivensprockets 41 are securedV -by suitable'sets'crews and'keys to a drivenshaft-50 having bearing support in bearings. 51 and 52'Jweld edorth'erwise secured to the side plates 20V (Fig.1`:2)`. `1V Aplage gear3 is secured by a setscrew and keyV to thcsha'ft 50 Y beyond the bearing52 which'meshes with a muchsmaller gear YS-f secured by a setscrew andkey to Va shaft 55 VV'having bearing support in bearings 56 and 57welded orV otherwisesecured to the side Vplates 20. A large gear 58 isVsecured by a -setscrew or'the like toY the shaft SSNadjacent thebearing57 which meshes with a smaller gear ,'59 spe'- cured by a setscrew andkey tothe driven Vshaft'Y V60 of a constant speedelectric motor 61 whichis securedrvby :suitable bolts to the plate 23. I l

VThe lgated hopper construction v,18 Vremovably Arests on and snuglylits against the inner surfaces of the side Vplates 2in-as is Vclearfrom the drawings, and comprises a hopper 65 defined exteriorly by arear wall 62, sidewalls 63, and a front wall 64, whichis illustratedfashaving 'three compartments 66, 67,V and GS-'dend by saidffour walls andinterior partitions 72, although a greater'or a lesser number ofcompartments may be employed;A V 'l'fhe -compartments 66, 67, and V68are Vopen at the topfasY illustrated in order yto be readily charged bya loading tractor, a small crane, or other desired'means. The

compartments 66, 67, and 68 have bottomk openings 69,

70, and 71 which discharge directly'onto the conveyerV belt 4t),V as isclearV from the drawings, particularly Figs. Zand 6. lt is also to benoted from Fig. 4 and Fig.v6

that the lower edges of the dividing walls 72 and side Y. walls 63lofthe hopper 65 terminate substantially short Vof lthe belt 40 and aresupplemented by verticahdivider plates 73 which are welded or otherwisesecured'at their rear edges to the rear wall 62 and near the front arewelded or otherwise secured to the lower edge of the front wall 64. Thevertical divider plates 73V extend forwardly beyond the hopper 65 Vtoassist ldischarge on the belt of the proper amount of m-aterials fromeach compartment 66, 67, and 678. The divider plates73 extend ableswitch (not shown), the conveyer belt will move Y in Vthe directionofthe arrows in Fig. 4 andY will move materials from'thecompartments 66,67, and 68, and discharge the same onto the chute 96 for Vgravity dropinto grinding machinery, or the like. All other factors being the sameas with manual hand feeding of grinding machinery, the feederapparatus'lS increases the output from fthi'ty to fifty percent. y Y

It is manifest 'that uniform amounts ofthe materials will be movedlbythe conveyer belt 40 from the compartments 66, 67,'and 68, theparticular amount in each instance being determined by the position ofthe respective Jgates 79,80, or 81.- Hence, the end products, such VVasre'bickj or the llike," will Ybe of uniform construction. When thefeeder-"apparatus 15 is used with grinding machinery, there will be lessWear and tear on the grind- ,ing-1 elements andthe power factor will beimproved, sincefthe Vgrinding'elements will noty have to overcome'batchw loads. and the constant supplyof materials will eliminate peaksand lows in current drainage. Also, there willbe no stoppage of thematerial, but it will be con- Y Vvtinuously fed so vthat maximum outputobtains.

. f The gatedl hopper construction 18 is readily remov-Y Yable topermitfinterchange of hopper constructions difsutliciently close totheconveyer belt 40 to prevent interl mingling of materials beingdischarged thereon.

' The front wall 64 -of `the hopper 65 also'terminates `at substantiallythe top elevation of the divider strips 73 and cooperates with thedivider strips 73 'and the -belt 4t) to denne openings 75, 76, and 77through which Y material may pass in the rotation of the belt 40, whichare' closed by vertically adjustable gates 79, 80, and 81 in the` lowerextreme position of movement of each (Fig. 5). The gates 79, 80, and 81are reciprocatable between plates 83 and 84, the former of which iswelded or otherwisesecured to the front wall 64 ofthe hopper 65 and thelatter of which is bolted Yto the former. Each of the three gates 79,88, and 81 includes an integral vertically `threaded boss 85 anda'vertical scale 86 which is welded to the top edge thereof, yas isparticularly shown in Figs. ll and l2. YThree spaced vertically boredbosses V87 and welded to or formed integral with the plate 83 aredisposed in positions above and in alignment witlrthe bosses of thegates. Threaded shafts-89, 90, and 91 are supported by suitable collars92 from 4the bosses'87 yand threadedly engage theoosses 35 (Figs. 5 and7); Each shaft 89', 953, 91 includes a'squared upper end 93 which isadapted to receive a wrench or other toolfor turning the selected shaft89, V9), 'or 91 to effect vertical Y movement of the supported gates179, 80, and 81, respectively. VGuide elementsf welded to the pl-ate 83assist in maintaining the gates V779, Si), and 81 in the proper .plates28 in position to receive materials vfromrthe conferent in respect tothe compartments, etc. Removable bolts may be used to insure the hopperconstructions 1,8 remaining in ;plac e,rif desired, but same have notbeen found necessary.

It is apparent that lthere has been provided 'a novel feederconstruction which fulfills the objects and advan- Ytages )soughttherefor. v

Itis tobe understood that the foregoing'descriptionY and theaccompanying drawings havev been given by way of illustration andexample. It is also to be understood that changes inform of theelements, rearrangement.A

of parts, and substitution of equivalent elements, which will be obviousto thoserskilled Yin the art, are contemplated as within the scope ofthe present invention which v is limited only bythe claimswhich follow.V

What is claimed is: 1. In combination, feeder apparatus comprising asupport, a compartmentized hopper on said support including compartmentshaving discharge outlets at the bottom thereof, a conveyer constructionon said support including a single conveyer belt having :a portionthereof extending ybeneath the'said hopper discharge outlets to receivedischarged materials therefrom, said hopper discharge 'outlets lbeing inparallel relation in respect to the direction of movement of saidconveyer belt and extending transversely across said conveyer belt,means for actuating said conveyer, a separate adjustable gate at the endof each'hopper compartment for individually determining the amount ofmaterial to be moved by the conveyer belt from each compartment, eachgate being mounted for ver-tical movement and being suspended on Vavertical threaded shaft by means of a threaded rider member secured tothe gate, and parallel divider members extending alongsaid singleconveyer belt from the gates to insure the discharge of thepredetermined amount of material from each compartment.

2.v In combination, feeder apparatus comprising a support, acompartmentized hopper on said support having discharge outlets atV thebottom thereof, said hopper ,in-

cluding at least three parallel compartments each of which has one ofsaid discharge outlets at the bottom, a conveyer construction on saidsupport including a single conveyer belt having a portion thereofextending beneath the said hopper discharge outlets to receivedischarged materials therefrom, said parallel compartments beingparallel with the direction of movement of the conveyer belt, means foractuating said conveyer, a separate gate at the end of each hoppercompartment for individually determining the amount of material to bemoved by the conveyer belt from each compartment, each gate beingmounted for vertical movement and being adjustably retained on avertical threaded shaft, and parallel divider members disposedimmediately above the conveyer -belt and extending through the hopperand forwardly from the gates S0 as to divide the belt into a pluralityof side by side longitudinally extending materials transporting Iareasfor insuring the discharge of the predetermined amount of material fromeach compartment.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 528,230Kaucher Oct. 30, 1894 845,168 Fisher Feb. 26, 1907 900,227 Svenson Oct.6, 1908 990,395 Searle Apr. 25, 1911 1,070,798 Green et al. Aug. 19,1913 1,170,804 Dunham Feb. 8, 1916 1,312,314 Eisenmann et al. Aug. 5,1919 1,409,003 James Mar. 7, 1922 1,529,219 Schaab Mar. l0, 19252,373,239 Fenn Apr. 10, 1945

